Casting machine



Sept. 10, 1940. A. s. KUX

CASTING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, use

A. s. KUX 2,214,638

CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1938 s m, 1940. I

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l l l I, I l, l I

Sq. 10, 1940. A. s. KUX

CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24;19sa

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A S KUX CASTING ncrmm Fund Jan. 24, 1938 A. s. Kux $24,638 CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1938 5 Sheet-Sheet 5 Sept. 10, 1940.

5HOT CVLFDOW V.

CORE our oFDlE DIE OPE/V Jab 0):" 01.0550 v om: IND/E JHO 7' C YL'TS TILL DOWN Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASTING MACHINE 7 Albert s. Kux, OhicagoJll. Application January 24, 1938, Serial No. 186,540

'iClaims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in casting machines, particularly adapted for use in forming articles of molten metal forced I into the dies or molds. although it is not necessarily limited to such use as it is well adapted to operate with equal efliciency in forming articles from other suitable materials, and one of the objects of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction of such machines.

A further object is to provide improved means for supporting portions of the machine, and improved means for inserting and withdrawing cores into and out of molds or dies.

A further object is to provide improved valve locking mechanism for locking the controlling valves, thereby rendering it impossible to operate the incorrect valve during the cycle of opera-.- I

tion of the machine.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplf: hment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts;

hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and showing some of the parts in different positions.

Figure 1A is a detail sectional view taken on line lA-IA, Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2-2, Figure 1, with parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, on an enlarged scale and with parts omitted.

Figure 4 is a view partlyin elevation and partly in vertical section, taken on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-5, Figure 4, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the packing for the ejecting plunger.

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the actuating and the locking means for the control valves.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the parts in different positions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral Ill designates generally a supporting, base upon which all of the'parts of the machine are mounted. Arranged adjacent one end of'the base are laterally spaced uprights H (see particularly Figure 3) which may be of any desired size and configuration and supported by the upper ends of these uprights is a cross-beam or saddle I! which may be secured in position in any desired or suitable manner, such as by means of fastening bolts l3 passing through flanges I4 and also engaging in flanges ll upon which the flanges ll rest. The flanges ll preferably are formed integral with the uprights ii.

These uprights II are spaced laterally for any 10 desired or suitable distance and are provided with oppositely disposed brackets it upon which a furnace or heater ll rests, this furnace being of any desired or suitable construction and being provided with heat insulating material. 15

Ribs or projections ll may be provided on the uprights H above the bracket it so as tomaintain the furnace or heater il in proper positionand spaced from the uprights.

The numeral l9 designates a pot or container 20 for the material from which the articles are to be formed and which projects into the heater il, heat being supplied'so as to maintain the material in the pot" ll heated, from any suitable source, preferably through the medium 0 a burn- .26 er 20 which projects through an-opening, l in on of the walls of the heater i1.

The pot I8 is preferably provided with a circumferential flange 22 and the flange projects over the upper edge of the walls of the heater and may be anchored in position in any suitable manner, such as 'by means of bolts 23 passing through the flange and into the walls of the heater.

The pot i9 is provided with a spout 24 (see particularly Figure 4) which projects through an opening 25 in one of the walls of the heater.

Supported by the saddle i2 is a plunger device which preferably embodies a cylinder 26 having a closed bottom 21 and an open top around which latter is provided a flange 28. The cylinder 28 projects through an opening 28 in the saddle I2 so as to extend into and terminate in proximity suitable manner, 55

the piston 33 sothat the piston may reciprocate freely therein, and this portionof the cylinder 1 p is provided with openings 31 which form com- .munications between the pot l3 and the interior of the cylinder. The upper portion 36 of the cylinder is of an internal diameter somewhat greater than the di-" ameter of the piston and this portion of the cyl- .inder is provided with one or more openings" forming communication between the pot l9 and 1 theenlarged portion 33 of .the cylinder. This opening, or openings, 39 is, or are, arranged substantially at the normal level. of the material 46 inthepotl8. 7

Leading from the portion 36 of the cylinder is an outlet passage 4i which inclines upwardly to a point in proximity to and for any desired distance above the nozzle 24 and then extends outwardly as at 42 in a substantially horizontal direction constituting therewith a goose-neck so that when the piston 33, after having been raised to admit material into the cylinder, is'then forced downwardly, in a manner to bedescribed, the

material in the cylinder will be ejected with considerable force through the outlet passage -42 and into. the mold. I 85 The cylinder and plunger are the saddle l2 and in order to properly position the same with respect to the mold and so as to hold the nozzle43 in position ina manner'to be described, the flange H (see particularly Figure 1) of the saddle through which the bolts I3 pass being provided with slots 44.

This adjustment may beieflected by means of screws 45 which pass through ears 46 carried by the uprights H and these screws abut the end of the saddle and are provided with heads 41 by means of which they may be adjusted. Locknuts 48 may also be provided to hold the screws in their adjusted positions.

The plunger 33 is provided with a recess 49 opening through the lower end thereof and with which recess passages 50 communicate and thesepassages extend laterally, transverseto the axis of the plunger and communicate with a circumferential recess 5! opening through the periph ery of the plunger.

The piston packing ringembodying semicircular elements 53, is provided with overlapping ends 54 and shouldered and overlapping extremities 55. These elements are seated in the recess.

5| and form a packing for the piston and they also extend across the passage 50. v

When the plunger is raised they will not in-' terfere with such movement but when the plunger 'isforced downwardly against the material in the portion 36 of the cylinder, the pressure of the material'in the recess 49 and passages 50 will force the sections53 outwardly and against the wall of the cylinder to form a fluid tight packing so as to prevent the material from flowing bg; tween the cylinder wall and the periphery of the plunger.

The plunger 33 may be reciprocated in any desired or suitable manner such as by means of a lever 5IA pivotally mounted as at 52 intermediate its ends and preferably uponthe saddle l2. One

V I 2,814,688 Arranged within the cylinder is-a piston 33 supported "upon opposite sides of the member 14.

end of the lever SIA is preferably provided with a rounded surface, 63 which projects into a slot' 54 in the plunger, and the wall of the extension 30is provided with a slot 55 through which the lever 5|.A projects and which latter slot is pro-- vided so as not to interfere with. reciprocation of the plunger.

The otherend of in a slot 68 in the, end of a bar or member 69..

.The other endof the member 56 is-connected to a piston (not shown) which reciprocates in the cylinder 60, a coupling 6l being. preferably provvided between the rod 59 and the piston rod. 1

-- A bearing 62 may also be provided for guiding the rod 53 in its mov'ements.

Fluid pressureis supplied tokthe cylinder from any suitable source, ina'manner to be described,and is adapted'to fiow flrst on one side of the piston and then on the other side to control the movement of the piston, through pipes 63-64.

the lever is pivotally con 'neotedas at 56 preferably to a block 51 disposed v If desired, and inorder to accentuate or impart a quick movement to the-piston in the cylinder 66, supplemental means may be providedv in the way of fluid pressure. .To that. end theremay'be provided a tank or container 66 which" maybe mounted-upon a bracket 66 connected'to' one of theruprights ll. This tank is provided with a control valve mechanism 61 through which fluid under any desired or suitable pressure is admitted. the tank serving as an accumulator tank for accelerating the action of the pisto'n 33.

When liquid flows. intothe tank or container 66 through the pipe 66 the fluid in thetank o r container will be compressed and at a predetermined time in the cycle of operationof the machine the The bottom of the tank is connected by means of a pipe 681to the cylinder below the piston.

expansion of the compressedfluid will discharge the liquid from the tank or container into the cylinder 60 against the piston-to rock the lever 51A, thereby speeding up". or acceleratingthe "shot" or discharge of the contents of the pot l9 throughthe outlet passage.

The dies or molds 63 are "respectively mounted upon supports 1 Il2 and are connected to such supports as is usual .withdevices of this character. 7 e as at 13 uponthe support 16(see particularly Figures 1 and '4) and has co-operatingthere-' with ahead or member 14 (see particularly Figure 1). This head or member 14 is secured I in positionby means of tie rods 15 which pass The support II is pivotally mounted through the support II and are held in position by means of nuts 16 threadedthereonto. v

The other ends of the tie rods 16 pass through the head or member 14 and nuts or collars I'I-Il .The numeral 19 designates generally a casing or tank. for containing the fluid which operates the machine and the member." is supported by the same, preferably upon a track 3|. I

With this construction, ofsupport it will be manifest that inasmuch as the support 'll is are threaded on' to the ends of the tie rods on pivotally mounted as at 13, the proper or desired obtained. That is, in the assembling of the machine, if these *parts are not properly 'alined, the V support 14 may be adjusted so as. to swing the support 1| about its pivot I3. This may be accomplished in any desired, or suitable manner, such as by means of an adjusting screw 36, the ends'of which are threaded respectively into the wall of the casing 19 and also into the suppler'adjustment of the entire die holder unit may .be

.will be manifest that elevated and byhadiustingthe screw,80 in the opposite direction the Iine'i'nber "will be permitted to be lowered.

The support I2 is freely movable upon the tie rod I5 by means'of the rod passing loosely therethrough'andin'order. to assist insupporti'ng the support I2 during its movementtheremay be provided a bracket 82 which is secured to any suitable support, such as the casing or tank".

This bracket may beprovided with slots '03 through which fastening bolts "pass, the slots being provided to permit adjustment of the the support I2 is moved laterally, in a manner to be described, it slide upon the bracket 82.

. 69 to permit extraction of the formed article.

Movement is impartedtothe support 12' by means of links 85-46 pivotally connected by one end as at 81. The free end of the link 05 is pivotally connected as at 08 to the support 12. The link 06' is pivotally supported as at 00 to arms or bracket .90 on the head or member I4.

The numeral 9'I designates a cylinder in which a piston (not shown) is reciprocable. The piston rod 92 which is connected to the piston is in turn connected to an arm on the link 06 so that when the piston is moved in one direction the links 05- 86 will be caused to knuckle, thereby retracting or drawing back the support 12 to separate the molds or move the mold I0 away from the ,mold

When, however, the piston is moved in the opposite direction the links 05-'-'-06 will operate to I ,provided with pipe, connections. 93-=-04 which communicate withthej cylinder on opposite sides v .of'the piston. I

advance the support I2 to move the mold -10J into co-operative relation-with vthe'mold 09.

The piston in the cylinder 0| is moved first in one direction and then in the other by means of fluid pressure and to that end the cylinder 0| is The support 1|, (sea mammals Figure 4) also serves as a means for assisting in supporting the nozzle 43, the exposed end of which latter is preferably convexed as \at" 95 so as to enter and be seated in a concaved seat '90 which encompasses the outlet end of the discharge pas sage 42 leading from the cylinder 21.

A guard or shield 01 may, ii. desired, be dis-- posed over the nozzle'flmA- lug or projection 90'may be provided on the support 'II to extend over thenozzle 24 to assist in positioning the heater andfpot I9. .This lug will also serve as a means for limiting the movement of the support 'II about its pivot 13in one direction.

. In an appar'atus'of this character any desired or suitable number'of cores may be provided, according to the nature of the article being formed.

Infthe present exempiiflcation of theinvention and inFigure 4 aswell as in Figure 2 one of such 'cores 0! is disclosed. v

Q Suitable mechanism is provided for inserting xand withdrawing the cores andwhere a plurality of cores are employed they may bearranged to be shifted either simultaneously or successively. As the mechanism which inserts'and withdraws each of these cores is the same, the specific description of one will apply equally as well to all of them. The core inserting and withdrawing mechanism may be located in any desired or con venient position about the molds.

the member '14 may be Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the core conwhich a piston is reciprocable and this piston trolling mechanism consists of a cylinder I00 in has connected to it a piston rod III which ex-f I tends through the top of the cylinder. A cross- .head I02 is provided with an opening through which a shouldered end of the piston rod IOI passes and the crosshead is connected to the piston rod "I in any suitable manner so as to move with the piston rod." Passing through the crosshead and through suitable openings I03 I06 are threaded upon the rods I04 on one side of the crosshead and similar nuts or collars I 0'l v are threaded-on these rods on the other side of bracket. "It will therefore be manifest that when the crosshead. The respective nuts I00. are spaced from the respective nuts I01 so. as to permit ani'ndependent movement of the crosshead with respect to the rods.

7 These rods 'I04 pass through suitable guides I00 and also through another crossbar or mem ber I09 which latter is disposed below the cylinder I00 and in proximity to the molds 00-10.

The cross member I09 is secured to the rods Il4'preferably by means of nuts or collars IIO the cylinder I00 through a pipe connection 2- on one side of the piston, the piston will be raised from the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 to'the position shown in dotted lines in the said figure. During this movement of the piston the fluid above the piston will be discharged through the pipe connection I I3. When, however, the flow of the fluid is reversed, that is,

when it is exhausted through the pipe connection '2 and admitted through the pipe connection I I3 into the cylinder I00, the'piston will be lowered and the core 00 will be inserted through suitable openings in the mold sections 09-10, as shown'in Figure 4.

It will be noted that there is a lost motion between the crosshead I02 and the rods I04. This is provided in order that locking mechanism for holding the core in position may be provided so as to operate to lock the cores after they have been properly positioned and during the operation of forcing a. charge into the molds, and

then unlocked so as to permit the cores to-be withdrawn.

Any suitable locking means may be provided for that purpose but a simple and eflicient locking means embodies a bell crank lever II4 pivotally mounted as at II5 on a suitable support. To one arm of the bell crank lever a rod H6 is pivotally connected, as at III while the other end of the rods or links II6 are pivotally connected as at 8 to ears or projections II9 on the crosshead I02.

"Carried by the crossbar I09 are seats I20 which are concaved and are struck on an are described from the center 01' the pivots I I5.

The free extremity of-the arm I2I of the bell crank lever H4 is curved as at I22 and these curved extremities coincide with the seats I20 and are adapted-to be seated therein when the parts are in the full line position shown in Figure 2, that is, when the core .89 is in position in the mold 60-10.

In this position it will be noted that the collars I01 are out of contact with the cros'shead I02 and the parts will be held in this position by rea- 1 raising movement will continue causing the bell crank lever II4 to swing about its pivot II5 with the result that the ends I22 of the arms I2 I of the bell crank levers will be moved out of engagement with the seats I20, thereby unlocking the core 99.

By the time the unlocking has been completed, the crosshead I02 will have assumed. the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, that is, until it contacts with the nuts I0I. Thereafter a further movement of the crosshead I02 in the same direction will raise the rods I04 and with them the crossbar I09 so that the core 99 will be withdrawn from the mold.

To insert the core 99 into the mold the operation of these parts will be Just reversed.

The cylinder I00 may be supported in any suitable manner, such as by means of a bar or rod I23, one end of which may be secured to the stationary support II by being sleeved through'a portion thererof and clamped or secured against movement with respect thereto by any suitable clamping or securing device I24. The rod I23 passes loosely through a bearing I25 in the support I2 (see particularly Figures 1 and 4) sothat the movement of the support I2 will not be interclamping bar or rod I28 may be provided for supporting the cylinder for movement about the rod I23 as a pivot and this bar or rod forms a pivot about which the cylinder I00 may be moved. A

slot I29 may be provided in the block I 21 through which fastening bolts I30 pass to clamp or secure the cylinder I00 in its adjusted position. Thus by loosening the clamping bolt I30 the cylinder may be swung about its pivotal support I20 to any desired position and then secured against further movement by means of the clamping bolts I30. This adjustment is provided in order to permit the core 99 to be properly positioned according to the shape of the article to be formed and the angle in which it is to-be inserted into the mold.

The controlling or operating fluid is supplied to the various cylinders 50, 9i and I00, as well as to the container 65, from the tank or supply I9 by means of a suitable pump or circulating device (not shown) which is operated by means of a suitable motor I 32. The pump forcing the liquid through the respective pipes to the respective cylinders and the operation of the pistons in these cylinders is controlled according tothe side of the piston on which the fluid is admitted to the cylinders, as will be fully understood, and the direccontrolled by the valve mechanism of any ordinary or well lmown construction, suflice it to say that the valve is of such a construction that when moved to one position it will cause one of the pipes of the respective cylinders to operate as an inlet for the cylinder and the other of the pipes as an outlet, and vice versa. These valves are all located in a convenient position for the operator,

preferably in proximity to each other, such as shown in Figures 1,? and 8.

The valve for controlling the fluid with respect to the mold closingcylinder 9| is designated generally by the reference numeral I33 in Figure 8. while the valve for controlling the fluid with respect to the core pulling and inserting cylinder I00 is designated generally by the reference numeral I34, and the valve for controllingthe fluid with respect to the shot delivering or ejecting cylinder 90 is designated generally by the reference numeral I35.

Handles I39, I31 and I39 are provided for the respective valves I33, I34 and I35.

In order to provide an arrangement which will insure the correct series of operation of the valves for the different mechanism and to prevent the inaccurate operation of any one of the valves at any time in the cycle of operation of the machine, suitable looking or controlling means is provided for the valve.

These valves are located preferably in aline ment with each other and in close proximity, and connected to the valve I34 is a member I39 provided with a hook shaped extremity I40 forming a seat I. This member I39 isalso provided in its periphery with a concaved seat I42, all disposed on one side of the pivot of the valve. The member I39 also extends to the Opposite side of the pivot and is provided with a seat I 43 in a portion I44, the extremity of which latter is convexed as at I45. When the valve is rotated by the handle I3I this member I39 with the extension I44 will swing about the pivot with the valve. On the valve I33 is a plate or member I46 which is providedwith a seat I4I-in a portion I48 that is adapted to receive the projection or' hooked end I40 on the member I39. The extremity of the member I46 is concaved as at I49 and adapted to be seated in the concaved seat I42 on the member I39. 7

Connected to the valve I is a plate or member I50 in the edge of which is provided a concaved seat I5I. Spaced from this seat I 5i and in alinement therewith is a hook shaped extremity I52 on the member I50 forming a seat I53.

When the valves are in the position shown in Figure -7, the valves I34 and I35 will be locked against operation as the concaved extremity I45 of the member. I44 will be seated in the seat' I5I of the member I50, thereby locking the valve I35. At the same time the concaved extremity I49 01' the member I43 will be seated in the concaved seat of the member I39 and this will lock the valve I34 against operation until the valve I33 is actuated.

When the valve I33 is operated to cause the member I to assume the position shown in the full lines in Figure 8 the valve I34 may be oper- .ated or moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, but until the valve I34 is moved to such a position the valve I35 will be locked against operation, that is, until the extremity I of the member I44 is moved out of the seat I5I in the member I50.

Thus it will be'seen that these valves will be tion of flow of the fluid through the pipes is interlocked and it will only be possible to operate predetermined ones of the valve in a predetermined order or sequence. proper operation ofthe machine.

By the provision of the container compressed fiuid above the actuating fiuid, the plunger 33 will be given a sudden movement,

thereby causing the material in the pot l9 tobe suddenly forced or'injected into the mold.

In the present form of the invention the mold section 69 (see Figure 4) is held-stationary while the mold section 10 is movedtoward and away from the mold during the operation of the machine. a

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes-may be made in the details of construction and in the combina tion andarrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. Y

What is claimed as new is: 1. In a casting machine a frame embodying spaced uprights, a member pivotally mounted upon said frame, a second member spaced'from the first said member, means connecting said members for maintaining them'in fixedspaced relation, an adjustable support'upon which the second said member rests and by means of the adjustment of which both of said members and the said connecting means will be moved about .said pivot, an intermediate member disposed between the other said members and movably supported by the said connecting means, co-operating mold members carried by the first saidmemher and said intermediate member, means for effecting relative movements or the said mold members into and out of co-operative relation,

and an additional support for supportingand guiding the said intermediate member in its movements. v

2. In a casting machine a frame embodying spaced uprights,- a member .pivotally mounted upon said frame, a second member spaced from the first said member, means connecting said members, for maintaining them in'fixed spaced relation, an adjustablesupport upon which the second said member rests and by'means of the adjustment of which both of saidmembers and the said connecting means, will be moved about said pivot, aninter'mediate member disposed between the other said membersand movably sup-' ported by the saidconnecting means, co-operat ing mold members carried by the first said mem-' her and said intermediate .member," means for.

eflecting relative movements ofthe said mold members into and out of co-operative relation,

an additional support for supporting and guiding the'said intermediate memberin itsmovements,

and meansadapting said additional support for independent adjustment.

3. In a casting-machine, co -operating mold members, means individual to the members for supporting them, fluid actuated means for eil.ect-- ing a relative movement of the mold members, core inserting and withdrawing means embodying a cylinder and a pistonto one ot'whichthe This will insure a as with the any position of the said cylinder,

core is connected, a suppor t-maintained 'in a fixed position with relation to the mold mem? bers, means mounting said cylinder upon the last said support for pivotal adjustment to vary the angular plane in'which the core is inserted into and removed from the mold, means for supply-.

ing fluid pressure to said cylinder, and means means against operation at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation of the machine and in 4. In a casting machine, co-operating mold operating automatically to; lock the core pulling members, means supporting the mold members for relative movements into and out of co-operative relation, means for effecting such-movements, core supporting means, means 'for actuating the core supporting means, means mounting the, core f supporting. means for angular adjustment with respect to the mold members to compensate varying angles at which the core may be inserted into and withdrawn from the mold, and means operating automatically to lock the core pulling means against operation, at a predetermined [time in the cycle of operation of the machine.

5. In a casting machine, co-operating mold members, means supporting the mold members for relative movements into and out of co-operative relation, means for effecting such' move ments, core supporting means, means for actuating the core supporting means, means, mounting the core supporting means for angular adjustment with respect to the mold members to compensate varying angles at which the core may be inserted into and withdrawn from the mold, and' means responsive to the operation of .the movable one of the cylinder and piston elements :ior locking and unlocking the core insertingand pulling meanaat predetermined times in the cycle oi operation of the machine;

6. In a casting machine, a mold, core inserting, and pulling'rneansembodying a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a loose but'operative 1 connection between said piston, and the core,

whereby the piston wlll'have a predetermined f movement independent 01 they core, and locking means for maintaining the core against movement during a predetermined time in the cycle r I of operation of the machine, the said locking means being controlled in its operation by the said independent movement ofthe said piston.

7. In a castingmachine, a mold, core inserting and pulling means embodying acylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a loose but operative connection between said piston and the core, whereby the piston willhave a predetermined movement independent of the core, and locking,

means for maintainlng the core against move-' ment during a predetermined time in the 'cycle of operation of: the machine the said locking means being controlled in its operation by the said independent movement of the said piston, the said locking means embodyingv a swinging member and a seat into and out or whichlatter a portion of said swinging member is movable.

, smear a. mix 

